Stockholm part 3 - escape to the archipelago
Jul. 22nd, 2017 10:40 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vampyresheepBackdating a bit, want to finally get round to completing my Stockholm blog post before the next holiday!
so after a morning exploring Gamla Stan, the medieval city centre, it was nice and all but we wanted to see some of the countryside, so decided to take a boat trip to one of the closest archipelago islands, Fjaderholmarna. Not the easiest names to pronounce when trying to enquire about tickets, but armed with a google map on my phone, I resorted to the international language of pointing and tickets for a boat trip were purchased!
( quite photo heavy .... but unlike FB, with words to accompany the photos )
Full gallery of pics here.
so after a morning exploring Gamla Stan, the medieval city centre, it was nice and all but we wanted to see some of the countryside, so decided to take a boat trip to one of the closest archipelago islands, Fjaderholmarna. Not the easiest names to pronounce when trying to enquire about tickets, but armed with a google map on my phone, I resorted to the international language of pointing and tickets for a boat trip were purchased!
( quite photo heavy .... but unlike FB, with words to accompany the photos )
Full gallery of pics here.
(no subject)
Jul. 22nd, 2017 11:30 pmgirlofpreyI know my petition sites are really sad about the potential mass death of the bees, but it does just look like they want to rip bees.
(no subject)
Jul. 22nd, 2017 09:21 pmgirlofpreyI started It yesterday. It might not have been a great idea to read a book that literally starts with a 6 year-old dying, given that I have a 6 year-old nephew, but I powered through it. And it is amazing. Stephen King is such a good writer, like, I struggle with reading a little bit these days, because of the OCD. I often feel like I have to go back and read things again, because I haven't 'gotten them' properly, which interrupts the story. But Stephen King's writing just flows. I still do that a little bit, but mostly I don't care whether I've gotten a bit properly or not, because I want to know what happens next. It's weird that people put down his writing sometimes. It's also weird when you think maybe you're just not doing well with books at the moment, but it turns out you just need better books.
On a vaguely related note, talking point: do you think George RR Martin is who's ruined stories for us all right now? The reason why people are so happy to just enjoy a story for what they think is going to happen, rather than what is actually happening? And put up with stories that just go on and on and on with no end in sight?
In other news, I can't believe the new Confederate show they're going to let the guys behind TV Game of Thrones make (the guys behind TV Game of Thrones). Wow.
This has been a slightly odd weekend so far - I was looking forward to it all week, because I was working, and now it's here and I don't know what to do with it. I finished Wolfenstein. That's a game I was playing, about an alternate universe where the Nazis got magic technology and won the second world war. The best part of it was when you were in a museum, and there was an exhibit about how the Nazis had put a man on the moon, and the main character said "fuck you, moon". It's very tongue in cheek like that. The sequel's out in October, and it looks wicked, so I wanted to finish it to be ready for that.
There's a new Lord of the Rings video game coming out as well. They've made Shelob a woman. A sexy woman. I feel - I don't know. Blank-minded, about that decision? Like why would they do that? But I always sort of liked Shelob, with my limited knowledge of Tolkien, so I'm vaguely interested in a story that gives her a talking role anyway.
I'm going to have a bit of a Michael Keaton-fest, based on how much I loved him in Spiderman Homecoming. I have Beetlejuice and The Other Guys. I feel good about both of them as film choices.
On a vaguely related note, talking point: do you think George RR Martin is who's ruined stories for us all right now? The reason why people are so happy to just enjoy a story for what they think is going to happen, rather than what is actually happening? And put up with stories that just go on and on and on with no end in sight?
In other news, I can't believe the new Confederate show they're going to let the guys behind TV Game of Thrones make (the guys behind TV Game of Thrones). Wow.
This has been a slightly odd weekend so far - I was looking forward to it all week, because I was working, and now it's here and I don't know what to do with it. I finished Wolfenstein. That's a game I was playing, about an alternate universe where the Nazis got magic technology and won the second world war. The best part of it was when you were in a museum, and there was an exhibit about how the Nazis had put a man on the moon, and the main character said "fuck you, moon". It's very tongue in cheek like that. The sequel's out in October, and it looks wicked, so I wanted to finish it to be ready for that.
There's a new Lord of the Rings video game coming out as well. They've made Shelob a woman. A sexy woman. I feel - I don't know. Blank-minded, about that decision? Like why would they do that? But I always sort of liked Shelob, with my limited knowledge of Tolkien, so I'm vaguely interested in a story that gives her a talking role anyway.
I'm going to have a bit of a Michael Keaton-fest, based on how much I loved him in Spiderman Homecoming. I have Beetlejuice and The Other Guys. I feel good about both of them as film choices.
spend some time at the range
Jul. 22nd, 2017 12:06 pmsolarbirdHooo, practice range time makes a huge difference learning Widowmaker play.
I spent a bunch of time on the practice range yesterday and the day before and the impact has been immediate. I had a couple of twitch headshots at lunchtime overwatch that were just nuts. Intent was there, sure, but the mechanics? Pure reflex. Twitch, headshot. Good night, Hanzo. Twitch, headshot. Good night, McCree. Go to sleep.
Plus a few more deliberately aimed headshots. I had some good numbers today. Their McCree was the only one who could get anywhere near me. But more, I'm picking up the always-be-moving part. Not perfectly, of course. But I was thinking of her as best played more still than she should be, and that's wrong. Move. Always.
Also won another couple of duels with enemy Widowmakers, and one - ugh, she was terrible. I'll have this reaction when I'm playing enemy Tracer, when they're terrible - "oh, sister, you shame us all" - and I had that today, as Widow, about an enemy Widow. And I was right. I was a factor. She wasn't. We won, and they barely even ever slowed us down.
Also also, double-kill with a venom mine. That was both a first, and hilarious. "Here, have some deadly neurotoxin I got from my best friend online. Ooh, did that sting? Thanks, I will tell her."
I really do kind of think Widowmaker and GlaDOS would be evil online friends. You know, what with the common interests in deadly neurotoxin and killing. I should learn how to say "the cake is a lie" in French. Google translate says "le gateau est un mensonge." I suspect if it's gonna get anything right, it's that.
Someone should draw them getting together at a café for cake and neurotoxin. Tell me that wouldn't be great. :D
Huh, I guess it's official. I need a Widowmaker icon.
I spent a bunch of time on the practice range yesterday and the day before and the impact has been immediate. I had a couple of twitch headshots at lunchtime overwatch that were just nuts. Intent was there, sure, but the mechanics? Pure reflex. Twitch, headshot. Good night, Hanzo. Twitch, headshot. Good night, McCree. Go to sleep.
Plus a few more deliberately aimed headshots. I had some good numbers today. Their McCree was the only one who could get anywhere near me. But more, I'm picking up the always-be-moving part. Not perfectly, of course. But I was thinking of her as best played more still than she should be, and that's wrong. Move. Always.
Also won another couple of duels with enemy Widowmakers, and one - ugh, she was terrible. I'll have this reaction when I'm playing enemy Tracer, when they're terrible - "oh, sister, you shame us all" - and I had that today, as Widow, about an enemy Widow. And I was right. I was a factor. She wasn't. We won, and they barely even ever slowed us down.
Also also, double-kill with a venom mine. That was both a first, and hilarious. "Here, have some deadly neurotoxin I got from my best friend online. Ooh, did that sting? Thanks, I will tell her."
I really do kind of think Widowmaker and GlaDOS would be evil online friends. You know, what with the common interests in deadly neurotoxin and killing. I should learn how to say "the cake is a lie" in French. Google translate says "le gateau est un mensonge." I suspect if it's gonna get anything right, it's that.
Someone should draw them getting together at a café for cake and neurotoxin. Tell me that wouldn't be great. :D
Huh, I guess it's official. I need a Widowmaker icon.
Writing, job finding, and kids
Jul. 22nd, 2017 12:59 pmthe_bell_jarI've been writing since I was a kid - poetry, short stories, daydreams that never made it to the page, night dreams, or what I like to call Nightflix, with threads woven out of both the mundane and the fantastic - images I can never seem to capture once I've woken. A good chunk of my whole life is lived inside my head where, much to their chagrin, I create pedestals for the people I love. (Luckily I'm not too attached to those concepts. No one has to be who they are not. I merely take the best that I see in them and elevate it in my mind.) I have long lived on what-ifs and maybes and supposition, and I find that, at the tender age of nearly 36, it's time to put those brain games on paper.
So, I'm working on writing a novel and it's happening sloooooowwwwly. But I'm pretty sure that's just going to be the nature of this character-centered, complex, dystopian story of struggle with its diverse, intersectional cast of characters. I've got a framework down, I daydream about it daily, and now I'm working on getting to know my characters (and forming a plot as I go along). We'll see if this venture leads anywhere. It's definitely more material than any of my other attempts.
I'm also looking for a fucking job. It turns out that a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in gender and sexualities don't translate well into the job-finding real world. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!
And in other news, the kids just returned from a 3 week sojourn with their grandparents and father. Somehow, over just the last two days, the bathroom is again full of toys, there are crumbs and sticky drops of who-knows-what on the kitchen floor, and silence has fled. We're so glad to have them home!
So, I'm working on writing a novel and it's happening sloooooowwwwly. But I'm pretty sure that's just going to be the nature of this character-centered, complex, dystopian story of struggle with its diverse, intersectional cast of characters. I've got a framework down, I daydream about it daily, and now I'm working on getting to know my characters (and forming a plot as I go along). We'll see if this venture leads anywhere. It's definitely more material than any of my other attempts.
I'm also looking for a fucking job. It turns out that a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in gender and sexualities don't translate well into the job-finding real world. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!
And in other news, the kids just returned from a 3 week sojourn with their grandparents and father. Somehow, over just the last two days, the bathroom is again full of toys, there are crumbs and sticky drops of who-knows-what on the kitchen floor, and silence has fled. We're so glad to have them home!
Rest In Peace, John Heard
Jul. 22nd, 2017 12:14 pmcalliopes_penJohn Heard has passed away at the age of 72. May he rest in peace. He was found dead in his hotel room yesterday, two days after having minor back surgery. He might be most well known for the role of Peter McAllister (Kevin’s father) in the first two Home Alone films. I also vaguely remember him from Cat People (1982).
40 Day Anime Meme - Day 10
Jul. 22nd, 2017 07:54 amkalloway10 -- what is your favorite 'moe' anime?
Hmm. I don't watch a lot of slice-of-life/girls-doing-everyday-
Hmm. I don't watch a lot of slice-of-life/girls-doing-everyday-
(no subject)
Jul. 22nd, 2017 09:09 pmtielanIt's so nice when people comment on really old stories. Even if they're not always very wordy about it.
Yesterday morning (my day off) was crazy productive. Today has been far less productive than I hoped. Mind you, I spent a lot of it reading because it was gorgeous sun outside and I just could.
IDK. Feeling a bit BLEH lately.
Yesterday morning (my day off) was crazy productive. Today has been far less productive than I hoped. Mind you, I spent a lot of it reading because it was gorgeous sun outside and I just could.
IDK. Feeling a bit BLEH lately.
Pokemon Omega Ruby Episode 4: A Sudden Encounter! Miraculous Contest Scouting!
Jul. 22nd, 2017 06:06 amxyzzysqrlIn the very early AM, when the sky is dark, a friend tosses me an egg. I tuck the egg carefully in position behind the plant-lizard, masked seed bulb, mushroom, fluffpuppy and green lumpy thing and run around in tight circles for a while to give it a start at hatching. Then I go to bed.
When I wake up, the power is out. It takes me another day to get this update finished.
Good morning, everyone. I'm playing Pokemon Omega Ruby, and it's time to Dewford Town. ... do Dew... Dodew... go forward to D... township of Dewforwarding...
We're going into Dewford Town okay. This pun was poorly thought out.
( Just get in here. )
It is beautiful and heaven help me, I want to move in. Next time, we'll explore if that's an option. (I am guessing no.)
When I wake up, the power is out. It takes me another day to get this update finished.
Good morning, everyone. I'm playing Pokemon Omega Ruby, and it's time to Dewford Town. ... do Dew... Dodew... go forward to D... township of Dewforwarding...
We're going into Dewford Town okay. This pun was poorly thought out.
( Just get in here. )
It is beautiful and heaven help me, I want to move in. Next time, we'll explore if that's an option. (I am guessing no.)
☆☆☆
Jul. 21st, 2017 09:25 pmyuuago☆ I'm thinking about trying to write something to submit to NorthWord. It's a fiction/poetry magazine (well, they call it a "literary journal") published bianually here in Fort Mac. The theme for the next round of submissions was announced earlier this week, and I think it's something that I can work with. Normally, the idea of being published gives me the willies - and in fact, even the idea of submitting to this publication makes me a little bit uncomfortable. But it's an obscure magazine with a very limited circulation, and if I use an alias to submit, then there is roughly 0% chance that anyone I know would ever read it or hear about it, if my work is accepted. So, it's just a matter of slapping together some publishable poems - easier said than done, of course, but it wouldn't hurt to try. And of course I need to decide whether to submit under my name but request it be published under alias, or... submit completely under alias (both options have advantages/disadvantages). Well, I can worry about that detail later.
☆ So, I hear that the Dream Daddy dating sim has finally been released. Not gonna' lie, the more I hear about this game, the more I want to play it. Coziness and m/m romance and terrible puns? Yes! My experience with the genre is limited to Hatoful Boyfriend and, uh... Angelique (and in that case, it was an incomplete fantranslation, heh) so it isn't something I'm terribly familiar with, but it sounds fun. It unfortunately won't run on my main computer, but I can work around that. I've stumbled over some spoilers about one of the characters already, and while the particular detail I saw is very minor and doesn't really have anything to do with the story, it makes me even more interested than I was before. The only thing that bugs me is that apparently the game is 18+, which I hadn't realized at first. That bit is kind of a turnoff. But, oh well, everything else about it sounds great.
☆ I've been an absolute ball of nerves lately. It's so annoying! I feel like getting anything done is taking 50% more effort than it should. :| Go away, anxiety monster, go awayyyyy.
☆ Note to self: Bring those paintings down to the framing place tomorrow. There just really is no point in half-assing this.
☆ So, I hear that the Dream Daddy dating sim has finally been released. Not gonna' lie, the more I hear about this game, the more I want to play it. Coziness and m/m romance and terrible puns? Yes! My experience with the genre is limited to Hatoful Boyfriend and, uh... Angelique (and in that case, it was an incomplete fantranslation, heh) so it isn't something I'm terribly familiar with, but it sounds fun. It unfortunately won't run on my main computer, but I can work around that. I've stumbled over some spoilers about one of the characters already, and while the particular detail I saw is very minor and doesn't really have anything to do with the story, it makes me even more interested than I was before. The only thing that bugs me is that apparently the game is 18+, which I hadn't realized at first. That bit is kind of a turnoff. But, oh well, everything else about it sounds great.
☆ I've been an absolute ball of nerves lately. It's so annoying! I feel like getting anything done is taking 50% more effort than it should. :| Go away, anxiety monster, go awayyyyy.
☆ Note to self: Bring those paintings down to the framing place tomorrow. There just really is no point in half-assing this.
Y e a h so
Jul. 21st, 2017 08:00 pmnanslice........I bought Dream Daddy.
:D :D :D
:'D
I'm ready for the most wholesome dating sim I've ever played.
:D :D :D
:'D
I'm ready for the most wholesome dating sim I've ever played.
(no subject)
Jul. 21st, 2017 05:22 pmkallowayWhew-- Friday. This was a long, hot week.
I scheduled the window installation, which is still a month out (as expected). While this company seems relatively efficient, affordable, and I've heard very good things about the actual windows, their customer service has been just shy of atrocious. I had to beg the scheduling rep to stay on the phone to answer a couple of basic questions like 'how much space should I have clear around each window?' and whatnot. And this is after two other people coming out to measure, etc. and making disparaging and freakshow comments about my place.
Mostly, when I haven't been too groggy to do anything, I've been playing Brave Exvius. I'm not far into the story, since there are so many events to poke around in otherwise. So for every bit I progress the story, I'm burning through my energy gauge with grinding and whatnot. I did manage to score a Warrior of Light today, so I'm excited. I haven't had a chance to do much with him, though. I actually really like the BE original summons as much as anyone. There may be drabbles forthcoming. ^^;;
I want to try to do some writing this weekend. We'll see. It's been so long... I suppose I can get back to putting some stuff up on AO3 and whatnot, too? I probably have less than 5% of my total output up over there. *facepalms*
There's no time like the present!
I scheduled the window installation, which is still a month out (as expected). While this company seems relatively efficient, affordable, and I've heard very good things about the actual windows, their customer service has been just shy of atrocious. I had to beg the scheduling rep to stay on the phone to answer a couple of basic questions like 'how much space should I have clear around each window?' and whatnot. And this is after two other people coming out to measure, etc. and making disparaging and freakshow comments about my place.
Mostly, when I haven't been too groggy to do anything, I've been playing Brave Exvius. I'm not far into the story, since there are so many events to poke around in otherwise. So for every bit I progress the story, I'm burning through my energy gauge with grinding and whatnot. I did manage to score a Warrior of Light today, so I'm excited. I haven't had a chance to do much with him, though. I actually really like the BE original summons as much as anyone. There may be drabbles forthcoming. ^^;;
I want to try to do some writing this weekend. We'll see. It's been so long... I suppose I can get back to putting some stuff up on AO3 and whatnot, too? I probably have less than 5% of my total output up over there. *facepalms*
There's no time like the present!
One more cat on the couch
Jul. 21st, 2017 05:23 pmerinptahThis guy is safely back at the local shelter where he came from.
(Full details in locked posts -- if you didn't see them, and would like to be on a filter that includes stuff like cat drama, feel free to comment.)
The name on the shelter paperwork is Eli, so that's what I'm going to call him, not the name picked out by the roommate who brought him home and then wasn't around to take care of him.
Eli is super shy and super timid, but also totally mellow -- even when he was scared he never bit or scratched, just hid. In the three weeks he was at the flat, there was literally one time when he felt safe enough to approach a human on his own volition. Then he got spooked again, and there weren't enough days to re-reassure him before returning him to the professionals.
But I did get photos of him on the couch.
Petting for a sweet boy.
I hope he gets adopted by someone he can climb all over.
(Full details in locked posts -- if you didn't see them, and would like to be on a filter that includes stuff like cat drama, feel free to comment.)
The name on the shelter paperwork is Eli, so that's what I'm going to call him, not the name picked out by the roommate who brought him home and then wasn't around to take care of him.
Eli is super shy and super timid, but also totally mellow -- even when he was scared he never bit or scratched, just hid. In the three weeks he was at the flat, there was literally one time when he felt safe enough to approach a human on his own volition. Then he got spooked again, and there weren't enough days to re-reassure him before returning him to the professionals.
But I did get photos of him on the couch.
Petting for a sweet boy.
I hope he gets adopted by someone he can climb all over.
40 Day Anime Meme - Day 9
Jul. 21st, 2017 03:47 pmkalloway09 -- name an anime character you absolutely hate.
'Hate' is a strong word for me. I have plenty of characters I really, really don't like. The few downright hates that come to mind are all from video game land...
And one definitely-anime example where a character had what could have been an endless amount of potential except it was completely disregarded and... wasted anyone on a character who had been established by the bulk of the previous canon to have absolutely no reason to exist.
Stellar Loussier from Gundam SEED Destiny.
( And then whoops, like a thousand words of explanation! )
'Hate' is a strong word for me. I have plenty of characters I really, really don't like. The few downright hates that come to mind are all from video game land...
And one definitely-anime example where a character had what could have been an endless amount of potential except it was completely disregarded and... wasted anyone on a character who had been established by the bulk of the previous canon to have absolutely no reason to exist.
Stellar Loussier from Gundam SEED Destiny.
( And then whoops, like a thousand words of explanation! )